Since Suzanne is a student living with housemates, I asked if she would write something about how she manages to stay healthy and vegan while managing a busy life. Here is the post and recipe she wrote just for us:

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My name is Suzanne and I like eating plants, getting caught in the rain, perusing farmers markets, and have way too many mason jars. I blog over at hello, veggywhere I write about living a fun, active and healthy vegan life! I began blogging roughly four months ago and haven’t looked back; it has exposed me to such an amazing community of like-minded people, and has already changed my life for the better!

Now before I get to sappy about my passion for blogging, I’ll move on to what you all came for. Carrie asked me to write about how I manage to live a healthy vegan lifestyle as a university student. Though I don’t proclaim to be an expert, I have learned a ton since becoming vegan about 9 months ago; today I will share my tips and tricks with you. As a special bonus, I’ve also concocted a delicious and very easy vegan recipe to share.

Like most people these days, I lead a pretty busy life. I am a full time university student in my fourth year studying nursing, I have a part time job on the side, various volunteer commitments, and participate in an energy exchange program at a yoga studio. When my peers find out my veganism, one of their first comments is often “it must be so hard”!

I always understand where they’re coming from, university life is busy after all, but I don’t find myself agreeing with them. If there is two things that I can attribute to being successful in living a healthy vegan lifestyle as a university student: being versatile, and being prepared.

Versatility

For those who presume that a vegan diet is confining and consists only of salad and tofu, I can certainly see why eating vegan may be perceived as challenging. Being constantly immersed in non vegan-friendly settings such as cafeterias and parties is another likely deterrent factor. With practice, I have come up with some ways to make eating a vegan diet interesting and easy in the university setting:

pick up something new at the store to cook with, try a recipe you’ve recently bookmarked, or taste a new vegan option at the cafeteria to keep your palate from getting bored.

go with the flow in social settings; eat before going to the restaurant and order a drink instead (or call ahead to find out about vegan options). The whole point of getting together is to enjoy each other’s company anyway, so no need to feel deprived.

bring a vegan dish to share at potlucks or social dinners. Vegan food really can be enjoyed by all!

Preparedness

Yes, it is true that vegan options can be hard to come across when out and about. I am very lucky to attend a school where vegan options exist, in a town where I can easily access vegan kitchen staples. If your environment isn’t as conducive for following a healthy vegan lifestyle, just remember what you learned in girl or boy scouts; be prepared.

set aside one day a week for meal prep. Find some recipes that excite you and make big batches to reheat and eat all week.

get a spiffy lunch box and tote your homemade lunch to school or work with pride.

pack some vegan snacks in your bag to have access to at all times, for no one likes going hungry (or hangry). I always have a container of trail mix with nuts and dried fruit in my backpack!

I really hope these tips are useful, whether you are simply interested in eating more of a plant-based diet, or if you already lead a vegan lifestyle. Hooray for veggies!

Now without further ado, a easy and healthy vegan recipe for you to try: Pumpkin Coconut Red Curry Noodles.

This dish encompasses both the versatility and preparedness that makes being a busy vegan a success. I made this sauce one Saturday night with the intention of eating it for lunches throughout the week. I also made sure I had different types of noodles (zucchini and soba) and protein (edamame, tofu, and pepitas) on hand to switch things up and keep my taste buds from getting bored. It’s easy, delicious, and environmentally conscious:

This actually sounds really good! I’ve recently started doing Meatless Mondays, and I’ve been looking for good dishes to make. I looooove curry so much, but I ruined it the last time I tried to make it (waaaay too spicy), so I need to give it another try!

This sounds great! I won’t do curry, but will make some other type of sauce. I have yet to try out my spiralizer, this will inspire me. I too usually eat the same thing over and over, I need to branch out. Thanks for your great post Suzanne, and thanks Carrie for having her. Have fun in New York!

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Disclaimer: The information on this blog is not intended to be and should not be interpreted as medical advice or a diagnosis of any health or fitness problem, condition or disease; or a recommendation for a specific test, doctor, care provider, procedure, treatment plan, product, or course of action. Consult your physician before making any changes to your diet or exercise program.